Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2100 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligations bonds to fund the establishment of an advanced technology learning center, or qualified zone academy, for students housed at the former national guard facility located at 475 22nd Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816.

Your Committee received testimony supporting this measure from the Department of Education. Comments on this measure were received from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the federal government authorized states, schools, and districts to use Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) to finance school renovation, repairs, equipment and instructional materials, and professional development. Matching state funds are required to utilize the QZAB. This measure appropriates the necessary matching funds to take advantage of the federal funds available to establish an advanced research and technology enterprise partnership project that will benefit Hawaii's schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying the intent of the federal QZAB program and further expressing the need for the state matching funds prior to the lapsing of the federal funds on December 31, 2002.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2100, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2100, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.